Itching Post Chemotherapy Another Follow Up

As you may have read previously, I have been suffering from chronic itching and hives post chemotherapy. My previous posts, Itching Post Chemotherapy and Itching Post Chemotherapy Follow Up have been very popular in Google search so I know there are other people out there looking for answers. I am happy to report I found my solution (for the most part)!!

After my last dermatologist visit I was determined that I would not be drugged into a sleepy coma to avoid itching. Furthermore, no other prescription had worked so far and I honestly didn’t believe this tactic would work either. For good measure I tried the Atarax and Zyrtec three times a day along with Pepcid. After a couple weeks of trying to get the insanity that was my itching under control with this method I gave up on the meds and started calling around to see if a spa around town had a steam room. I thought maybe I could get some relief with steam. I never found a steam room but talked to a spa representative that said I should get a body scrub. My instant thought was I was going to itch more after that. I WAS SO WRONG! I think all this time the crazy insane itching has been my skins toxic wasteland trying to be purged. It now makes sense to me that I had several layers of dead skin due to the chemotherapy killing my healthy cells and I needed to get rid of all of it.

Here’s how I did it!

I got rid of my soap. It was drying out my skin more and leaving a film. I opted for Gracie’s soap, Just Hatched.

I started scrubbing my skin every day with Lavender Scrub from Ummelina Day Spa (you may have to call them, I don’t see it currently listed on their site). I scrubbed vigorously twice a day with this stuff.

I increased my water intake from 3 to 4 liters a day in an effort to hydrate from the inside out.

It seemed so easy. Within two days of starting this scrubbing ritual my itching and hives were virtually gone. I still have a small spot on my left thigh that always itches but it is certainly better than my whole body itching and covered in hives. It may just be coincidence that my itching stopped when I started down this path but it seems so closely related that it is worth reporting. Maybe some of you will benefit from this ritual. Good luck my fellow itchers.

Hi Sarah- I used the a white face scrubber they are shaped like an egg it is rough and usually found by the loofahs and etc.. I too found relief with extremely hot water it was almost like the hot water got a deep, deep itch that I couldn’t reach. However, I always found it actually made it worse in the long run and I stopped doing it and that helped as well. I am again experiencing some itching. It moves around my body to different areas but in general it is miles better with scrubbing with salt scrubs, my scrubber, drinking a lot of water, and avoiding very hot water (which is really sad because it feels SO good and helpful at the time!). I’ll take a picture of the scrubber I used in a bit and post it so you can see what I am talking about. I hope this helps. -Trish

my aunt had her second chemo for ovarian cancer.. and she was so itchy and I read your post and told her about it and it got much better. she used Averno shower gel and lotion and it was very helpful. and she showered 2-3 times a day.. anyway I just want to let you know your post helped her a lot. thank you

I am so glad to hear the post helped her. Please tell her good luck on the rest of her journey. If she needs any other advice please let me know. It is so nice you are there for her and researching helpful things. Good luck to you both. -Trish

Thank you so much for this post! I had chemo (for breast cancer in 2007) and thought I was the only one itching like crazy afterwards. Doctor after Doctor tried to tell me that my chemo had nothing to do with my itching but, I knew I didn’t have this problem pre chemo! Thanks again for your post… I don’t feel like I’m crazy anyone… LOL My husband found this post and sent it to me. Everything you said makes sense and I’m going to give it a try.

Hi Priscilla- Thanks for writing in. Another thing that I am getting ready to blog about it gut health. I have noticed a significant change in my residual itching since starting this trio- http://www.procapslabs.com/Products/details.aspx?Complete+Digestion+Kit. I can’t imagine dealing with this level of itching since ’07. I was seriously feeling crazy. I hope these suggestions help you. I would highly suggest checking out the above link. I’ve found that chemo may have stripped my gut bacteria causing a wide array of issues that nobody could seem to figure out. Good luck to you and please let me know if the above recommendations help.

OMGOMGOMGOMG Ive been going insane. I get hives on my shoulder, hands stomach. The oncologist said he didnt think it was related, the primary Dr told me to take benedryl which did nothing. I feel less crazy now! And intend to try some of this for help. THANK YOU!

Wow! This sounds like a plan, 7 weeks after 4 cycles of EP (I elected to skip the bleomycin) I’ve started to itch like crazy, mostly on my left arm where I received the majority of the chemotherapy. But it’s starting to move elsewhere and the antihistamines aren’t really doing anything. I’ve never suffered allergies so it seems unlikely to me. I’ll be trying this this morning as it’s driving me nuts! Thanks for sharing!

Hi,
I’m having some itching. It is not nearly as bad as what you went through but I’m on meditation retreat and it is difficult to sit still and actually get any meditation done.

I had breast cancer and did 6 rounds of chemo from March-June 2014. So I’m about 6 months out.

I started dry brushing a few weeks ago and that did seem to help for awhile. My skin is so soft. I suspect it works much like exfoliating or it is exfoliating. A soft, natural brush is used (bought specifically for dry brushing) and you just brush towards your heart before showering or bathing. My skin is much less flakey which is big because my chemo causes premature menopause and the hormonal shift has brought lots of dryness.

However, I’m writing to ask about your technique because I think I need something more. I suspect my body is detoxing from the chemo. I had mercury poisoning and my doctor recommended dry brushing and infrared saunas to help me body release the mercury. That experience prepared me a bit for chemo detox.